What's your ideal body weight ?

Ideal body weight

Approximately one third of Americans are overfat or obese. The definitions of obesity and overweight are changing. In the past, ideal body weight (IBW) was calculated by a formula based on gender. Some pilots and controllers feel, perhaps correctly, that their ideal body weight is that weight listed on their medical certificate. A somewhat more scientific approach uses a formula derived from insurance company research on longevity. For men, the formula for IBW allows 106 pounds for the first 5 feet of height and 6 pounds per inch above five feet. A 6’2" inch male would have an IBW = 106 lb. (5’) + 84 lb. (14") = 190 lb.. Ten percent leeway on each side of IBW is considered healthy. In the example, our 6’2" male could weigh 171-209 and still be considered healthy. The formula for women is 100 lb. for the first 5 feet of height and 5 lb. per inch above that height.

Individuals are considered "overweight" if they are greater than 20% over IBW (similar to exceeding the Utility category weight on an aircraft) and "obese" if they were more than 30 percent over IBW (similar to exceeding the Normal category weight). "Morbid obesity" is defined as >200% of IBW. Obviously these formulae do not account for the bodybuilder with 4% body fat or the anorectic young woman with 30% body fat.

Body mass index

Recently, the classification of obesity and overweight is moving toward the use of Body Mass Index (BMI). A BMI of 25-29.9 is considered overweight and a BMI of 30 or greater is considered obese by some experts. A National Institutes of Health Consensus conference considers obesity to start at a BMI of 27. Morbid obesity is defined as a BMI > 40 kg/m2. The BMI is calculated by using the body weight in kilograms divided by the height in meters squared or BMI = kg/(m2). For weight in kilograms, divide weight in pounds by 2.2. For height in meters, multiply height in inches by 0.0254.